Tom Dempsey, 73, who kicked record 63-yard NFL field goal in 1970, dies from coronavirus after illness spread through his New Orleans retirement home and killed 15 people
- Retired NFL kicker Tom Dempsey, 73, who broke records with a 63-yard field goal he made for the New Orleans Saints in 1970, has died from the coronavirus
- Dempsey contracted the illness in March while a resident of a New Orleans retirement home where at least 15 patients have died
- His family was unable to be with him as his condition got worse because residents at the home were quarantined, says his daughter Ashley
- Her father, who had been battling Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, was born with no toes on his right foot and without fingers on his right hand
- He wore a specially made foot shoe to play and broke a previous field goal NFL record by seven yards for the Saints in a game against the Detroit Lions
- There have been more than 12,400 confirmed cases in Louisiana of the virus, which has been blamed for more than 412 deaths
Retired NFL kicker Tom Dempsey has died age 73 after coronavirus spread through his New Orleans retirement home, killing 15 people.
Dempsey, who broke records with a 63-yard field goal he made for the New Orleans Saints in 1970, died Saturday, according to his family.
The NFL legend started with the Saints in 1969, and went on to play for the Eagles, Rams, Oilers and Bills.
Retired NFL kicker Tom Dempsey, who broke records with a 63-yard field goal he made for the New Orleans Saints, has died after he was infected with the coronavirus. Dempsey is pictured making the history-making kick on Nov. 8, 1970 in a game against the Detroit Lions
Dempsey died Saturday night at a New Orleans retirement home, say his family members. After starting with the the Saints in 1969, Dempsey went on to play for the Eagles (pictured), Rams, Oilers and Bills
At least 15 residents of Lambeth House retirement home, including Dempsey, have died of the illness, reports the Times-Picayune.
Dempsey tested positive for the deadly virus, also known as COVID-19, on March 25, his daughter Ashley said.
Her father, who had been battling Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, was born with no toes on his right foot and without fingers on his right hand, and wore a specially made shoe during his career with the NFL.
Defying all odds, Dempsey broke the previous field goal record by seven yards on November 8, 1970, helping the Saints beat the Detroit Lions 19-7.
There have been more than 311,000 confirmed cases in the U.S. of the coronavirus, which has been blamed for more than 8,500 deaths.
Dempsey, who had been battling Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, was born with no toes on his right foot and without fingers on his right hand, and wore a specially made shoe (pictured) during his career with the NFL
There have been more than 311,000 confirmed cases in the U.S. of the coronavirus, which has been blamed for more than 8,500 deaths
A day-by-day look at the number of new coronavirus infections in the US
A day-to-day look at the number of deaths in the U.S. which have been blamed on the virus
Louisiana has had more than 12,400 confirmed cases and 412 deaths.
Dempsey held his record until he was tied in 1998 by the Denver Broncos’ Jason Elam, and then was bested by the Broncos’ Matt Prater with a 64-yard kick in 2013.
He is at least the third person connected to the Saints to have been confirmed infected with the virus.
Sean Payton, the team’s head coach, tested positive on March 19 and has since recovered. Also Saturday, Bobby Hebert Sr., the father of former Saints quarterback Bobby Hebert, died following complications from the illness.